2 Fairfax County school officials charged with money laundering

Sonya Swansbrough is the principal at Poe Middle School in Fairfax County. She has been charged with money laundering and embezzlement. (Courtesy Fairfax County Police Department)

WASHINGTON — Two Fairfax County school employees have been charged with embezzlement and money laundering, Fairfax County police say.

The principal at Poe Middle School, Sonya Swansbrough, 46, and an administrative employee at Jeb Stuart High School, Bethany Speed, 38, were charged after police investigated allegations that the two were falsifying timesheets for personal financial gain.

Police opened their investigation in September and found these incidents began in May, 2010. Officials believe more than $100,000 was embezzled, according to a news release from the Fairfax County Police Department.

A third person was charged in connection to this case. Swansbrough’s son, Brenton Rusnack, 20, has been charged with receiving stolen property.